Community / Economic Development
New San Francisco Light Rail Line Opens
San Francisco's new light rail line, the 5-mile T-Third, opened for free, weekend service Jan 13. The service is intended to revitalize the sagging south-east neighborhoods, but some bus riders question the new line. Daily service begins April 7.
Sprawl's Economic Effect On Agriculture In South
As new developments consume agricultural lands in the fast-growing South, the cooperatives that cater to farmers feel the pinch. While some can 'retool' by selling pet food and lawn fertilizer, others must close as another casualty to sprawl.
Struggling U.S. Malls Mix It Up As Asia Booms
While they flourish in Asia, huge shopping malls are losing their popularity in the U.S. to big box retailers. One way developers are reacting is by recreating the formerly all-commercial shopping experience to include a mix of uses.
Homelessness On The Rise In Hawaii
Hawaii's housing boom and other factors like high rents and a shortage of developable land mean that housing is often out of reach for the state's working poor. As a result, Hawaii has one of the nation's largest homeless populations.
Homestead Preservation District Could Soften The Blow Of Gentrification
With its downtown booming, Austin, Texas is trying to help homeowners who are feeling the squeeze from rising property values -- by buying their land.
Planning Report Interviews Ed Blakely About New Orleans Recovery
Noted L.A.-area scholar Ed Blakely helped Oakland and L.A. rebound from earthquakes; now he's turning to the resurrection of New Orleans. The Planinng Report features an interview.
Dublin Planner Has Big Plans For Irish Capital
City Planner Dick Gleeson has his sights set high for the city of Dublin, Ireland, proposing a remodeling of the city by 2016. His plans include everything from increased open space and bike paths to continued economic development to curb sprawl.
Public Space And The Urban Library Renaissance
With plush furniture, coffee shops, rock concerts and meeting spaces, public libraries are reinventing themselves as the city's primary public place.
Will Sarasota Pass The Duany Test?
Six years ago Andres Duany helped craft a new 20 year masterplan for the City of Sarasota, Florida, which prides itself on being a city with a small town feel. This week he returns to gauge the city's progress.
Nashville Wrestles With Issue Of Low-Income Housing
While programs for moderate-income first-time homebuyers are popular with residents, support for low-income rental housing remains low.
Ed Blakely's Ideas For New Orleans' Recovery
In his new job as the executive director for recovery management in New Orleans, Ed Blakely brings decades of experience and a few potentially controversial ideas.
Good Times Threaten Community Development Corporations
Community development corporations were created about a generation ago to build housing in impoverished neighborhoods of New York City where private developers had given up. Now that these areas are flourishing, these CDCs face an uncertain future.
Salt Lake City Hopes TOD Will Rejuvenate Depot District
A new rail line set to break ground in Salt Lake City is getting city officials excited about the prospect of increased connectivity and transit oriented development.
Revitalized Downtown Struggles With 'Hangover' Effect
While many downtowns struggle to attract residents and visitors, Madison, Wisconsin has succeeded in creating a vibrant nightlife scene, so much so, that overcrowding and alcohol-related crime have become a serious problem.
Seattle's Sustainability Strategies
The National Trust Main Street Center profiles community sustainability strategies from Seattle and other Washington State communities.
Public Libraries Act As Refuge For Many
Public libraries are increasingly being called upon to provide disaster services and support for those chronically in need, such as the homeless and seniors, yet their budgets continue to be cut.
Condos Rise In Forward Thinking Blue Collar Town
A company town near Seattle leveraged former Boeing property to attract new residential and commercial development, and is even luring the city's sports teams and the Seattle branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.
Community Divided Over Historic Designation
Residents in one New York City neighborhood are split over whether the creation of an official historic district would help or hurt their community.
'Nuclear Blast-Zone' Ring Development
Over security concerns, the U.S. government has moved some of its federal offices outside the "nuclear blast-zone" of Washington D.C. The move of offices about 75-miles from the D.C. ground zero is bringing an economic boom to the area's small towns.
Richmond Learns To Grow Smaller, Smarter
Richmond, Virginia is one of many cities using innovative strategies to deal with the consequences of a shrinking population.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
